Belmont, N.C.. – The Warriors split in the double header against the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on April 8 in their second Conference Carolinas series of the weekend. Falling in game one in a final of 3-2, the Warriors won game two in a final of 9-6.

Southern Wesleyan posted eight hits in game one. Sara Sweatt led the Warriors with three hits in the loss, followed by Becca White with two. Lizzie Fela and Kelly Cooper both posted a RBI in the game.  Lexi Thompson and Alex Oliver both had sacrifice hits and Lizzie Fela had a sacrifice fly.

The Warriors had a total of 10 hits in the game two victory. Kelly Cooper led the team in hits with three hits, followed by Sara Sweatt with two. Sweatt led the team in RBI's with a total of three after hitting her fourth home run of the season. Maddie Ward led in stolen bases having the only one of the game.  Hunter Hoskins pitched a complete game to gain her first win of the series.  Hoskins faced 37 batters while throwing 82 pitches and 54 strikes.

Game Vitals

Game One: Crusaders 3, Southern Wesleyan 2

Game Two: Southern Wesleyan 9, Crusaders 6

Record: Southern Wesleyan (8-30 / CC 4-14), Belmont Abbey (7-23 / CC 5-11)

How It Happened

Game One:

Game one of the double header began in the top of the second inning when the Crusaders put runs on the board. They started strong with a home run by Alyssa Sciaudone to take a 1-0 lead. After two singles and a sacrifice bunt, the Peyton Wilson doubled to right field and scored two, putting the Crusaders lead up to 3-0.

The Warriors rallied in the top of the third. Sara Sweatt was walked to lead off the inning and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lexi Thompson. She then moved on to third on a wild pitch. Kelly Cooper come to bat and hit a singled to bring Sweatt home and put the Warriors on the board down 3-1 to Belmont Abbey.

The game flat lined until the top of the seventh when Sara Sweatt was up once again and hit a single.  With Sweatt one first, Lexi Thompson hit a single to move Sweatt to third. Lizzie Fela came to bat next and hit a sacrifice fly that brought Sweatt home.  Despite the late rally, the Warriors could not come back and the Crusaders won game one 3-2 game.

Game Two:

The Warriors were first to strike in game two in the top of the third. After back-to-back singles from Kelly Cooper and Becca White, Sara Sweatt came up to bat and hit a 3-run home run and started the Warriors strong with a 3-0 lead.

The Warriors struck again in the top of the fourth after Maddie Ward reached first on a stolen base and stole second with Kali Berrigan at the plate. Kali singled and advanced to second on the throw which sent Maddie Ward home. Berrigan made it to third on a wild pitch with Cooper up at bat. Cooper hit a single and sent Berrigan home, extended the Warriors lead over the Crusaders 5-0.

The Crusaders fought back in the bottom of the fourth when they filled the bases on two errors and a walk, Selena Thompson singled and advanced to second on an error which sent two Crusaders home. After a single by Danielle Marietta, two more Crusaders came home and shortened the gap to 5-4.

The Warriors extended their lead once again in the top of the sixth.  Kali Berrigan walked to lead off and advanced to second on a single by Kelly Cooper.  Tiffany Cathey came in to pinch run for Cooper. Becca White singled which sent Berrigan home and Cathey to second. Sweatt came back to the plate and singled and was able to advance on the throw which sent White to third and Cathey home after an error. A wild pitch was thrown to allow Sweatt to reach third and bring White home. Thompson came to bat and hit a single to bring Sweatt home and put the Warriors up 9-4.

The Crusaders fought in the sixth and seventh inning to score twice, but ultimately they could not pull ahead of the Warriors and ended the game with a final score of 9-6.

What's Next:

The Warriors take the road again on Tuesday, April 11 and play at Point University at 3pm and 5pm. They return home Wednesday, April 19 when they play North Greenville University at 4pm and 6pm at Varsity Field.